Parren J. Mitchell

Parren Mitchell
Chairman of the House Small Business Committee
In office 1981–1987
Preceded by	Neal Edward Smith
Succeeded by	John J. LaFalce
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Maryland's 7th district
In office January 3, 1971 – January 3, 1987
Preceded by	Samuel Friedel
Succeeded by	Kweisi Mfume
Personal details
Born	Parren James Mitchell April 29, 1922 Baltimore, Maryland
Died	May 28, 2007(2007-05-28) (aged 85) Towson, Maryland
Political party	Democratic
Alma mater	Morgan State University University of Maryland
Religion	Episcopal
Military service
Allegiance	United States of America
Service/branch	United States Army
Years of service	1942-1945
Unit	92nd Infantry Division
Battles/wars	World War II

Parren James Mitchell (April 29, 1922 – May 28, 2007), was a U.S. Congressman affiliated with the Democratic Party who represented the 7th congressional district of Maryland from January 3, 1971 to January 3, 1987. He was the first African American elected to Congress from Maryland.

Mitchell was born in Baltimore, Maryland. His father, Clarence M. Mitchell, Sr., was a waiter, and his mother, Elsie Davis Mitchell, was a homemaker. Mitchell graduated from Frederick Douglass Senior High School (Baltimore, Maryland) in 1940. Mitchell served as an officer in the 92nd Infantry Division during World War II, and was wounded in Italy; he received the Purple Heart. He earned his bachelor's degree from Morgan State University, and his master's degree from the University of Maryland, College Park. Parren Mitchell was the brother of the late Clarence M. Mitchell, Jr., who was head of the NAACP's Washington office and was one of Lyndon Johnson's chief advisers during the Civil Rights Movement. In 1950, Mitchell sued the then segregated University of Maryland for admission to the graduate school, and won admission. When he graduated he was the first African-American to do so from that school.

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